Rupture of the airways after blunt chest trauma in two children

Rupture of the airways after blunt chest trauma is exceptional in children. Two recent cases are reported, in a 3-year-old boy and in a 12-year-old gi rl. Both had longitudinal tears, of the trachea for Patient 1, and of the m ain left bronchus for Patient 2 with many associated lesions for this patie nt. Diagnosis of rupture of the airways must always be referred to the mech anisms of the accident. Bronchoscopy is mandatory, in order to define the l esions, and to guide the treatment. immediate surgery is not always necessa ry if the chest roentgenogram demonstrates a good reexpansion, with a well tolerated and decreasing air leakage. Even in case of a delayed surgery, it is possible to perform a local reconstruction.